Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Measuring the effects of diethyl phthalate microplastics on marine algae growth using dielectric spectroscopy

Researchers developed a dielectric spectroscopy-based sensing method using a custom transmission-line probe on a printed circuit board to monitor the effects of diethyl phthalate (DEP) microplastics on the growth of marine algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa). Exposure to increasing DEP concentrations over 6 days progressively suppressed algal growth rates and chlorophyll content, with the reflection coefficient at 740 MHz providing a linear indicator of growth inhibition.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrical impedance spectroscopy based strategy for detecting and differentiating microplastics in water

Researchers developed a submersible electrical impedance spectroscopy approach capable of detecting and differentiating microplastics directly in biologically active aquatic environments, overcoming the labor-intensive preprocessing requirements of conventional FTIR and Raman methods.

2025 Journal of Water Process Engineering
Article Tier 2

Measuring Microplastic Concentrations in Water by Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

Researchers developed a method using electrical impedance spectroscopy to measure microplastic concentrations in water samples without requiring complex laboratory equipment. The technique can distinguish between different concentrations and types of plastic particles based on their electrical properties. The study offers a potentially faster and more accessible approach for routine microplastic monitoring in water treatment and environmental settings.

2024 Water 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?

Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 65 citations
Article Tier 2

In Situ Determination of Chlorella Concentration Using Single Entity Electrochemistry

Researchers developed an electrochemical method for detecting individual algal cells in real time using an ultramicroelectrode and single-particle collision technique. The approach could distinguish individual Chlorella cells and relate collision frequency to algal concentration, offering potential for early detection of harmful algal blooms. While not directly focused on microplastics, the method provides a platform for monitoring water quality impacts related to microplastic-linked eutrophication.

2026 Sensors
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Evaluating physiological responses of microalgae towards environmentally coexisting microplastics: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that microplastics inhibit microalgal growth and photosynthesis and induce oxidative damage, though microalgae can recover over time. Cyanobacteria are more vulnerable than green algae, and the relative size of microplastics to algal cells governs the mechanism of impact, while aged versus pristine microplastics have opposite effects on extracellular polymeric substance and microcystin production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of Very Low Concentrations of Colloids with Light Scattering Applied to Micro(Nano)Plastics in Seawater

Researchers evaluated static and dynamic light scattering techniques for detecting and quantifying colloidal microplastic and nanoplastic particles (0.1-0.8 micron diameter) at very low concentrations in marine water, demonstrating their potential as rapid, non-destructive monitoring tools.

2023 Microplastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A microwave-based technique as a feasible method to detect plastic pollutants in experimental samples

Researchers developed a non-destructive microwave-based cavity perturbation technique at 2-4 GHz to identify plastic pollutants including polypropylene, LDPE, HDPE, and cross-linked polyethylene, demonstrating that dielectric constant and loss tangent measurements can distinguish polymer types without destroying samples.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Discrimination of Microplastics and Phytoplankton Using Impedance Cytometry

Researchers demonstrated that impedance cytometry can discriminate between microplastics and phytoplankton in ocean water samples. The study suggests this technique could enable high-throughput, deployable monitoring of both plankton communities and microplastic pollution levels, addressing a key gap in current marine monitoring capabilities.

2024 ACS Sensors 10 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effect and mechanism of microplastics exposure against microalgae: Photosynthesis and oxidative stress

Meta-analysis of 55 studies (835 endpoints) found that microplastics reduce chlorophyll-a content and hinder electron transfer in microalgae photosynthetic systems, causing oxidative stress damage. Effects were concentration- and size-dependent, with freshwater microalgae more susceptible than marine species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavior and surface properties of microalgae indicate environmental changes

Not relevant to microplastics — this microcosm study examines how temperature and salinity stress affect the behavior, growth, and surface properties of three marine microalgal species.

2023 Journal of Applied Phycology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics exposure on the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae

Researchers investigated how polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect the photosynthesis system of freshwater algae and found that both types reduced chlorophyll content and impaired photosynthetic efficiency. The damage was concentration-dependent and worsened over the growth period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution in freshwater can harm algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 416 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics impacts in seven flagellate microalgae: Role of size and cell wall

Seven marine flagellate microalgae species were incubated with 1-micrometer polystyrene microplastics at 10 mg/L, revealing that cell size and the presence of a cell wall strongly influenced the degree of microplastic-induced physiological and growth effects across species.

2021 Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics in the aquatic environment, or in the presence of algae Chlorella sp., by comparison of biophotonic methods

Researchers compared multiple light-based (biophotonic) methods — including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy — for identifying microplastics in water samples containing algae, which can make detection much harder. They found that combining multiple methods improves accuracy and allows for real-world monitoring of microplastics in complex aquatic environments where other organic material is present.

2025 Polymer Testing 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

A dose-response study of microplastic effects on marine microalgae found concentration-dependent toxicity across multiple species, with higher MP concentrations reducing growth rates, photosynthesis efficiency, and chlorophyll content, confirming that microplastics pose risks to the base of marine food webs.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Do plastic particles affect microalgal photosynthesis and growth?

This study investigated whether polystyrene particles of different sizes and charges affect growth and photosynthesis in three marine microalgae species. The results showed that charged particles caused greater inhibition of algal growth at the lowest concentrations tested, suggesting that plastic particle charge and size influence their toxicity to primary producers at the base of marine food chains.

2016 Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Article Tier 2

Comparative assessment of MP effects on pigment composition and lipid profiles in three marine microalgae

Researchers exposed three marine microalgae species to polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics and found that the particles altered pigment composition and lipid profiles in species-specific ways. Microplastic exposure generally reduced photosynthetic pigments and shifted fatty acid profiles, with effects varying depending on the polymer type and concentration ratio. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could disrupt the biochemistry of ecologically and commercially important microalgae at the base of marine food webs.

2026 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Spectroscopies infrarouge et Raman de microalgues : étude des interactions avec des micro et nanoparticules

Researchers used Raman and infrared spectroscopy to study how freshwater microalgae interact with micro- and nanoparticles including plastics, without requiring extensive sample preparation. These rapid vibrational spectroscopy techniques can detect early cellular effects of particle exposure in organisms at the base of the food chain.

2020 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Protocol for low-cost quantification of microplastics through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy from aqueous matrices

Most methods for detecting microplastics in water require expensive equipment or time-consuming laboratory steps. This study presents a simple protocol using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) — measuring how microplastics change the electrical resistance of a solution — to rapidly and cheaply quantify plastic particles in water samples. Validated against conventional optical methods, the approach could make routine microplastic monitoring more affordable and accessible, particularly for lower-resource settings or high-throughput screening applications.

2025 STAR Protocols 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Culture Scenedesmus quadricauda: Interactions between Microplastics and Algae

Researchers found that microplastics from multiple polymer types inhibit growth of the freshwater alga Scenedesmus quadricauda and induce oxidative stress, with toxicity varying by polymer type, particle size, and concentration.

2021 Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of microplastics pollution in microalgal biomass production: A biochemical study

Scientists exposed the marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum to polystyrene microplastics and found that both short- and long-term exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations disrupted biochemical composition including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

2020 Water Research 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Chlorella sp. to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, finding that even low concentrations inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, while higher concentrations caused more pronounced oxidative stress.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Review Tier 2

Microplastics – A major contaminant in marine macro algal population: Review

This review identified the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in marine macroalgae, highlighting macroalgae as both indicators of MP pollution and potential entry points for microplastics into marine food webs.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

A multi-factor analysis evaluating the toxicity of microplastics on algal growth

This meta-analysis evaluated how microplastic characteristics such as polymer type, size, shape, and concentration influence algal growth, finding that effects range from inhibition to enhancement depending on multiple interacting factors.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations